Q: We live in Dubai. As a cultural practice, every year on Pohela Boishakh (14th April), our women only, from 20 families gather in any of our houses to welcome the new Bengali year. All of them cook different dishes, bring and eat together. Panta Ilish is the main item in the menu. In this get-together they not only do chit-chat but also discuss various religious topics to grow awareness and enhance knowledge. Some sisters bring books of Hadith and read, others listen. This year from some sources e.g. TV program etc, some women came to know that celebration of New Year is not permitted in Islam. As get together was decided already, instead of cancelling the program they changed the date and arranged get together on a later date. In this context, if you could answer us the following: Is the get together / celebration on Bengali New year haram? Should Muslims avoid it completely? What sort of Gunah it is – kabirah or Sagirah? · Instead of celebrating the day on a particular date can we arrange gathering on some other date? · Arranging get-together on Bengali New year at a particular date (14th April) and another day (say 15th April)- will both have the same Gunah?
A: These are not Islamic customs. These are customs stemming from kuffar cultures. Hence, they should be stopped.
Yes, it is permissible on another date, but don't show any regards to any of the kuffaar cultures and celebrations.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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